Experimental study on electro-magneto-mechanical behaviour of electromagnetic solids

New experiment systems that can offer electromechanical and electromagnetic coupling loads were established. Measurement skills and technologies under coupling loads have been developed. The experimental difficulties and technical problems, such as insulation, discharge, compressive testing of brittle ferroelectrics and so on, were well resolved. The constitutive experiments of piezo/ferroelectrics or ferromagnetic materials were carried out. Moiré Interferometry was applied to the measurement of transformation of the crack tip in ferroelectric ceramics under coupling loads. The deformation concentration near the internal electrode tip caused by non-uniform electric field was investigated by means of Digital Speckle Correlation Method (DSCM). With an aim to accomplish both measurements of constitutive response of the magnetostrictive materials and the fracture experiments of general soft ferromagnetic materials, a magnetomechanical-coupling testing setup was established, which is controlled by an industrial PC. The software was programmed to monitor the testing process and to deal with the acquired data. The characteristic curves of ferromagnetic materials, such as Tb_xDy_1-xFe₂ alloys, were measured, including the hysteresis loops, the magnetostriction curve and stress-strain curve.